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Amazon’s recent announcement of a major AI partnership with Humain, a Saudi Arabian AI company backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), has ignited a firestorm of controversy. The deal, which will see over $5 billion invested in building an “AI Zone” in Saudi Arabia, is raising serious ethical questions, particularly in light of the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist.
The timing of the deal, just over six years after Khashoggi’s assassination, has drawn sharp criticism, especially considering Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post, where Khashoggi worked. Khashoggi was killed and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, with evidence pointing to MBS’s involvement. His remains have never been recovered.
While Saudi investment in the tech industry is not new, this particular partnership has struck a nerve. The Public Investment Fund has been a major player in numerous startups, and even prominent figures like Andreessen Horowitz have sought Saudi funding. Amazon itself previously pledged $5 billion to build data centers in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s push for an AI-powered economy is part of its “Project 2030,” an initiative aimed at diversifying its economy away from oil. However, critics argue that this futuristic vision serves as a distraction from the country’s human rights record and its reliance on oil revenue.
The ambitious Neom project, a planned city of the future, has faced numerous delays and downsizing, with some viewing it as vaporware. Khashoggi’s murder initially led some companies and individuals to distance themselves from Saudi projects, but that stance appears to be softening.
The ethical implications of doing business with a regime accused of assassinating journalists are significant. The question arises: does the pursuit of profit outweigh the moral responsibility to uphold freedom of the press and human rights? For a company whose owner champions free press, the move seems hypocritical.
Furthermore, reports suggest that MBS may have even hacked Bezos’ phone in the past. Whether motivated by financial gain or potential kompromat, the deal underscores the complex and often morally ambiguous relationships between tech giants and authoritarian regimes.
This deal between Amazon and Saudi Arabia raises critical questions about ethics, accountability, and the value placed on human rights in the pursuit of technological advancement. It serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing tension between economic interests and moral principles in the global tech landscape.